Sue Jackson (far right) listens as a member introduces herself to the group at the September gathering of the Women’s Business Network. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
When she started her own business as a conservator of gilded frames and art objects in 1989, Sue Jackson was confident in her decision to trade her corporate cubicle for a home-based studio. The idea of leaving behind her colleagues at Digital and working alone, however, was less appealing. “I wanted to create a community of like-minded people, and to have something more than working alone,” she said last week.
That community was created in 1990, when Jackson and fellow businesswoman Sandy Craig, who operated her own bookkeeping business, started the Women’s Business Network. “We wanted it to be a business-oriented group where we could discuss the issues that confront business owners, such as marketing, financials, and work-life balance,” Jackson explained.
The first meeting attracted a group of about 10 Harvard women who responded to a classified ad placed in the Harvard Post. By 1993, the group had adopted bylaws and had begun holding agenda-driven meetings in the basement of the old library instead of at members’ homes.
Twenty-five years and counting
Almost 25 years later, Jackson’s business and the network she created to support it are thriving. Harvard Art now occupies a spacious studio on Littleton County Road and employs several artists and an office manager. WBN, as its members often call it, has evolved into a regional organization with a membership of between 50 and 70 women. Monthly meetings feature a speaker to address topics of interest to the group, such as coping with difficult clients. Events such as roundtable discussions, potluck socials, and a holiday party are also part of the routine.
The wider world concerns them, too. WBN currently donates to women entrepreneurs through Kiva Microfunds, which says it lends money in $25 increments to underserved people in 70 countries. Past donations have gone to breast cancer research and awareness initiatives.
Financial advisor Renee Senes recalled how she came to join WBN 20 years ago, after being invited to speak about retirement plans for small business owners. “I was struck by the warmth, intelligence, friendliness, and supportiveness of the group and immediately joined,” she said, noting that at her first meeting, everyone was able to fit around the conference table in the library basement. “I’ve made wonderful friends, learned a lot, received and referred business, and been personally supported through difficult periods in my life. It’s a wonderful, caring, nurturing group,” Senes continued.
A new home in town center
Last month, Senes was back at the old meeting place, though it is now the Center on the Common. Standing near a table of membership forms and name tags, she greeted friends, new members, and visitors while event planner Wendy Harrop of Bolton arranged attractive hors d’oeuvres and bottles of sparkling water on a table. Pat Cochrane, a Harvard-based jewelry-maker and accountant, made sure that members signed in as they entered the lobby. Long-time member Joan Finger, who runs a Bolton-based tutoring and educational consulting business, worked the room, handing out cards announcing a new business venture. Among the members were an Alzheimer’s researcher who was transitioning to a second career as a photographer of infants and expectant mothers, a hypnotist, several life coaches, a nutritionist, a writer, and a farrier. After the crowd of about 30 settled into chairs, featured speaker Meg O’Leary of Bolton talked about “content marketing,” which was described as a “don’t’ shill, share” style of selling.
More women own businesses
Founder Sue Jackson was there, too, one of the crowd. She told the Press she continued to enjoy meeting new people and learning “what they were up to.” The main difference between the early days and now, she said, is that “more women have their own businesses.” Though she is no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the group, she praised those who “now do the heavy lifting” that keeps the group vital, including Senes, Finger, Cochrane, Jan Teresko, Deb Oliva, Marie LeBlanc, Rebecca Bell, and others. “I never would have guessed when the group started up in 1990 that it would still be going today and serving as many women as it does,” she said.
The Women’s Business Network meets monthly at Center on the Common to provide education, networking, and support to women business owners. The next meeting is Thursday, Nov.13 at 7 p.m.; the topic is “Wine, Women, Wares, and Song.” The WBN is on the web at www.wbn-ma.org.
